IN THE FOREST 



I perceive a mass moving in the thicket. I send a ball, 

 and hear at the same instant Chassahucca crying 

 " Look out." 



At the same moment he swings himself on to a bough 

 and sits there. I perceive, scarce ten yards distant, 

 rushing through the thicket, the wounded cow, which 

 charges me with lowered head. To reload my rifle, 

 bring it to the shoulder, aim, and fire, all this demands 

 much time ; and, with such a weak weapon, I have 

 little hope of stopping so big a mass. Near me, on the 

 right, is a big tree. I endeavour to gain it, and, 

 behind the shelter of its trunk, avoiding the thrusts 

 of the horns, reload, and finish her. I make the 

 attempt, but I perceive the approach of the animal, 

 which is gaining on me, and I see that I shall be unable 

 to reach the shelter. I believe myself lost ; in one 

 wink of the eye my whole life passes before me. I 

 dream that I shall die on the day of the fete of the 

 dead. On a sudden I recall that the naturalist Dele- 

 gorgue, who hunted in South Africa some sixty years 

 ago, escaped from death in similar circumstances 

 by crouching on the ground. There is no time to lose. 

 I turn on the left foot, so as to present only my side 

 to the animal, and throw myself on the ground, my 

 head between my outstretched arms, my face towards 

 the earth, my rifle beside me. It is only just in time, 

 for the beast gives me a thrust of her horn, which 

 passes beneath me, and does no more harm than 

 unbutton my waistcoat. She halts and endeavours 



(75) 



